Woman Charged After Allegiant Air Assault on Juvenile Mid-Flight
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — A Memorial Day flight from Orlando to Hagerstown ended in handcuffs for 46-year-old Kristy Crampton, who now faces child abuse charges stemming from a violent outburst aboard the Allegiant Air aircraft. Charging documents allege that Crampton struck a juvenile passenger—believed to be a relative—with a closed fist and a water bottle before slamming his head into the airplane window.
The assault reportedly occurred mid-flight and was witnessed by several shocked passengers, prompting immediate police involvement upon landing.
From Disney to Disaster
According to police, the incident followed a family trip to Disney World. Crampton told authorities that tensions escalated on the flight when the boy allegedly began calling her names, including “fat” and “Miss Piggy,” during an argument.
“She decided to take the phone away from him,” the report reads. “He got angry. He pushed her arm off of the armrest twice before she responded by smacking him.”
What might have been a routine parental correction spiraled into violence, witnesses said. One passenger told officers, “The woman was not correcting the child, she was abusing him—whipping the [expletive] out of the kid.”
Law enforcement has not released the nature of Crampton’s relationship to the child.
Air Rage on the Rise
The incident is just one in a string of recent in-flight outbursts that has U.S. aviation authorities increasingly concerned. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 637 unruly passenger incidents have been reported so far in 2025. Though that number is well below the pandemic-era peak of 5,973 in 2021, officials warn that violence and erratic behavior remain a threat to airline safety.
The FAA says it recorded 1.6 incidents per 10,000 flights last week alone. “We have zero tolerance for passenger disruptions,” the agency emphasized, noting it imposed $7.5 million in fines in 2023 for such behavior.
Passengers at BWI Marshall Airport were not surprised by the latest event.
“I feel like we’re living in a time where violence is high and people are under stress,” said Noemi, a traveler heading to Houston. “If that’s what she’s doing in public, imagine what happens behind closed doors.”
Another passenger, Tony Lawson, added: “That’s a kid! It’s not right—if someone put their hands on your child, you’d lose it.”
Memorial Day Mayhem in the Skies
Crampton’s case wasn’t the only inflight disruption over the long holiday weekend. A separate flight bound for Houston was forced to divert to Seattle after a passenger experiencing a mental health episode attempted to open the emergency door mid-air.
The trend of in-flight meltdowns isn’t isolated. In 2023, the news covered a viral incident involving a man screaming at a crying infant on a Southwest flight from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale. Witnesses said he repeatedly shouted obscenities and refused to calm down despite efforts by other passengers.
What’s Causing the Turbulence?
Airline analysts point to post-pandemic anxiety, travel fatigue, and lack of in-person etiquette as potential causes behind the rising tension in America’s airspace.
“We’re seeing less tolerance, less patience, and more stress-induced aggression at 30,000 feet,” said Dr. Ellie Stanton, a behavioral psychologist who studies public incidents of rage. “When boundaries aren’t clear and tempers are short, minor conflicts become public spectacles.”
First-time flyer Jacob, heading to Los Angeles from BWI, had simple advice for travelers: “Just stay calm and be patient. Nobody wants to deal with drama when they’re just trying to get somewhere.”
Crampton Faces Court Hearing
Kristy Crampton remains out on bond pending her next court appearance. She is charged with child abuse, assault, and endangerment. Authorities are reviewing possible federal charges due to the assault taking place in U.S. airspace.
If convicted, she could face several years in prison and potential bans from commercial flight.
Sources:
